AFRIFORUM’S BULTFONTEIN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH APPREHENDS CATTLE THIEVES

The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Bultfontein on 1 April 2021 arrested five suspects on a farm bordering the town for both attempted cattle theft and theft.

The neighbourhood watch was informed that an attempted cattle theft took place on a farm, after which available neighbourhood watch members were deployed immediately. Neighbourhood watch members noticed that some of the suspects attempted to flee through a veldt, but thanks to effective radio communication and good cooperation between the neighbourhood watch and the police, two suspects were successfully taken into custody.

Shortly thereafter, the other three suspects were observed. Reaction members and members of the Welkom SAPSs K9 unit followed the trail of the suspects and within a number of minutes two more suspects were apprehended. The last suspect attempted to flee by walking into a water pan but was also arrested at last thanks to the bravery of a neighbourhood watch member and reaction member that took on the water.

Upon further investigation, it was determined that two of the suspects were involved with the attempted cattle theft and the three others are connected with the theft of green mealies. During the investigation, the neighbourhood watch in cooperation with the police searched suspicious premises and during this search confiscated two unpolished diamonds.

Chris Morgan, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Highland, thanked the neighbourhood watch members for their involvement and encouraged the community to participate in the neighbourhood watch’s activities.

“We want to encourage the community to become involved with our structures and as such make a real difference. Safety is a priority for us and that is why we want to invite the community to join our neighbourhood watch,” says Morgan.

Join your local AfriForum neighbourhood watch today: SMS “Buurtwag” to 31481 (R1).